Welcome to the Charleston District's Regulatory Division
The mission of the Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program is to protect the Nation’s aquatic resources, while allowing reasonable development through fair, flexible and balanced permit decisions. The Corps evaluates permit applications for essentially all construction activities that occur in the Nation’s waters, including wetlands. Corps permits are also necessary for any work, including construction and dredging, in the Nation’s navigable waters.
The Regulatory Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Charleston District is responsible for administering the Regulatory Program throughout the state of South Carolina. The Regulatory Division evaluates permit applications for essentially all work that occurs in the wetlands and waters of the United States that are regulated by the Corps pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Areas that may be within the jurisdiction of the Corps include tidal waters, marshes, swamps, streams, creeks, ponds, lakes, seasonally saturated forested and non-forested wetlands, and Carolina Bays. Activities occurring within the jurisdictional areas requiring a permit may include dredging of waterways, shoreline stabilization, beach re-nourishment, as well as the construction of piers, docks, marinas, boat ramps, roads, single-family homes, residential and commercial developments, recreational ponds, and wildlife management ponds.
All regulated activities occurring within jurisdictional areas require a permit from the Corps. In order to determine whether your proposed activity requires a permit, or whether wetlands and/or waters of the U.S. are located on your property or within your project area, please contact us for further guidance, or simply submit a Request for a Jurisdictional Wetland Determination.
Download the Request for a Jurisdictional Wetland Determination form .Please note that the final determination of whether an area is a wetland and whether the activity requires a permit must be made by the Charleston District Corps of Engineers.
The Goal of the Regulatory Program is to provide strong protection of the Nation's aquatic environment, including wetlands, and to ensure that the Corps provides the regulated public with fair and reasonable decisions.
Help protect South Carolina’s wetlands and streams. Contact the Corps just to be sure!
To obtain additional information regarding the regulatory program go to one of the other sections listed.
Questions concerning the Regulatory Program?
Call the "Project Manager of the Day" in the Charleston District Office(1) 866.329.8187 (Toll Free)
843.329.8044 (Local)
843.329.2332 (Fax)
Email point of contact for Charleston's Regulatory Division
Mailing Address:
US Army Corps of Engineers
Regulatory Division
69A Hagood Ave.
Charleston, South Carolina 29403-5107